Author and Druid practitioner John Michael Greer shared facts and folklore about vampires, ghosts, werewolves, demons and other creatures from his book, Monsters -- An Investigator's Guide To Magical Beings. According to Greer, the term 'monster' originally meant "that which is revealed or shown forth." For him, a monster is "something that breaks out of the usual definitions of our reality and shows us something unexpected about the world."

Greer described vampires as "predatory ghosts" that get their nourishment by draining the life force from living humans. He said they are stuck (sometimes purposely) between the first and second stages of death and must feed on people to remain there. Greer also talked about some of his Druid beliefs, creatures of faerie, mermaids, transitional ghosts, as well as noted the differences between ghosts and spirits, the latter having never been human.

Bearded Ian Gallery II

Due to the great response to last week's Bearded Ian Gallery, we proudly present the Bearded Ian Gallery II. On its cyber walls hang some of the more unusual submissions we received. Thanks again to all who sent in their Photoshopped Ians.